Archives for February 2012

Paradise on Richardson Street, Port Hedland

According to an interview with the ABC Breakfast radio, Darryl Brown lives on a piece of Port Hedland’s paradise. His home is 100 years old and has withstood many a cyclone.

 BHP want to ship iron ore even faster from Port Hedland and the homes along the foreshore are standing in its way to build a tug pen.  The tug pen development will require demolition of the fishing reef and a huge sea wall which could flood the homes located on Richardson Street (Ref. NWT, p. 1).

According to Mickey Dann “all that area from where Richardson butchers shop was, and up to where Darryl’s place is, I always knew was a place the people used to camp after fishing.  Also I would like to ask anyone out there who knows that you can’t build or erect any shelter over any water stream. All along from the where the park is, there is fresh water. I remember a water tank with a windmill was built not far from Daryl’s place. This water was used after they stopped carting from the Degrey River. I feel that BHP has gone too far, and something has to be done about them.”

Darryl Brown snubs BHP buyout

The story is getting more exposure at: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/12963749/locals-stall-miner-s-port-hedland-harbour-plan/

This recipe was found in a booklet compiled by the Students of Hedland College, Office & Secretarial Studies Course (1982 full-time class).  It is a collection of tried and reliable recipes “to help the housewife” with some recipes for “outback” cooks with the use of a camp oven.  The Country Women of the Pilbara collaborated to  select the best recipes at the time.

Here’s one from Mrs Joy Haynes, circa 1982.  Enjoy.

Chicken Cacciatore

There is a wonderful tribute to Mrs Joy Haynes in this week’s North West Telegraph.  Mrs Haynes as she was known to me, lived on Moore Street as did our family.  During the heady days of the 1970’s there were four Councillors who resided on Moore Street.  There was Mrs Haynes’ husband Jack, my father Colin Matheson, Arnold Carter who is still a Councillor living on Moore Street, and Ike Holbrow.   Between them they had more than 20 children. 

It was with great fondness that I read the article about Mrs Haynes which captured part of the many joys of living and growing up in Port Hedland.  Here are some of the quotes from the article:

Mrs Haynes with the Harbour Master Peter Blenkinsopp

Joyce Blance O’Brien was born on 6 April 1922.  She joined the Air Force as an instrument mechanic during WWII.  In 1946 Joy married Jack Haynes who she had knowned since her childhood.  They moved to Port Hedland in 1963.  She made the most of Port Hedland’s opportunities being a charter member of Soroptimist International of Port Hedland, an original committee member of the Hedland Tourist Bureau, local business owner and town socialite.  She was referred to as “a pillar of the Hedland community”.

Mrs Haynes ran the kiosk at the Port Hedland swimming pool for six years in the 1970s.  One of my favourite foods from the kiosk was her roast chicken.  She also had a handcraft company which evolved from tiny beginnings in the Richardson Forum to larger premises at Hedland Arcade.

Mrs Haynes called Port Hedland “paradise” and defended it as the best place to be.

Joyce Blance O’Brien passed away on 30 December 2011.  RIP.